March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nBack to those previews, then \u2014 and it sounds like Crimson Desert is impressing the majority of critics on PC so far! We’ll share a bunch of impressions for that version down below:<\/p>\n
IGN (Positive)<\/h2>\n
So far, Crimson Desert is showing a lot of promise. It’s certainly been on the minds of many for several years now, which has invited a host of comparisons with other large-scale games. But my extended hands-on time has made me feel optimistic and intrigued by the game’s maximalist action style. And that’s gotten me plenty interested in seeing if the full game can deliver on reaching the same highs as other genre greats.<\/p>\n
It is an oncoming tidal wave of unrelenting mechanical complexity and systems where absolutely nobody, at any point, asked if this was all a bit much. But you will find me there, arms outstretched, bellowing “Witness Me!” with silver spray paint on my teeth\u2014ready to be swept away, whether that’s into greener pastures or to get dashed upon the rocks.<\/p>\n
Crimson Desert is stitched together with a thousand RPGs, and its seams are easily traced. The Witcher 3’s medieval-fantasy grit here, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s insular puzzles and open-world sandbox there. A splash of Fable and Dragon’s Dogma’s reactive worlds, for good measure. In less sincere hands, the result would be derivative. But after playing Crimson Desert for six hours, the upcoming RPG feels more like an overstuffed toybox, offering pure entertainment if not always cohesion.<\/em><\/p>\nWhen I think of my six hours with Crimson Desert, I find myself constantly drawing comparisons to two other big-name, fantasy action titles: Dragon\u2019s Dogma 2<\/em> and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom<\/em>. To evoke quality names surely speaks to a certain calibre and ambition, no?<\/p>\nEarly Dragon Age\u2019s grit. Breath of the Wild\u2019s traversal curiosity. Fable\u2019s earnest morality. A whiff of Black Myth: Wukong wire-fu. It shouldn\u2019t gel. It absolutely should not gel. Somehow, it mostly does.<\/p>\n
Crimson Desert could be one of 2026\u2019s biggest games, but I also have a feeling it might be one of the most divisive. It offers up a stunning world with a breadth of mechanics and so much to do, but, at least from what I played, it feels like it\u2019s too afraid to embrace its silliness.<\/em><\/p>\nMaybe I\u2019m completely wrong, but I sense that some people will find Crimson Desert overwhelming and unfocused; that there is simply too much<\/em>. But others will likely find something that will occupy countless hours, and many evenings just discovering that yes, you can do that too. I\u2019m not sure which I am yet, but I\u2019m excited to find out.<\/p>\nAs you can see, it’s not all<\/em> good news here \u2014 there’s a sense that the game is so massive that it might buckle under its own weight \u2014 but the majority of critics seem to have at least enjoyed the four-six hours they’ve played so far.<\/p>\nThe big question is whether the final release can live up to the hype, and we’ll find out for sure in just a couple of weeks’ time. Stay tuned to Pure Xbox for a review roundup, along with more details on the Xbox version ASAP.<\/p>\n
Excited for Crimson Desert on Xbox? Tell us down in the comments section.<\/em><\/p>\n\tRelated Games<\/p>\n
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Fraser is the News Editor at Pure Xbox, where he spends his time reporting on the biggest stories in the world of Xbox and beyond.<\/p>\n